Marshals Episode 1: Kayce Dutton’s New Love Interest?! [Piya Wiconi Preview]

If you thought the dust had settled after the explosive events of Yellowstone, think again. The saga continues—only this time, it rides into a new frontier. In the CBS spinoff Marshals, we reunite with Kayce Dutton, portrayed once more by Luke Grimes, and the first episode, titled “Piya Wiconi,” wastes no time upending everything we thought we knew about his future.

Right from the start, eagle-eyed fans noticed something impossible to ignore: Kayce is still wearing his wedding ring. That subtle detail has ignited a wildfire of speculation. Does it mean Monica is still alive? Or is it simply proof that she remains alive in his heart? The trailer even flashes a fleeting image of a woman who looks remarkably like Monica—just long enough to make longtime fans pause, rewind, and question everything. It’s the kind of blink-and-you-miss-it moment that feels deliberate.

Episode 1, “Piya Wiconi,” translates to “new beginning” in Lakota. The title couldn’t be more fitting. Kayce has left the Yellowstone Ranch behind. The land that defined his family for generations is no longer his battlefield. Instead, he joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals tasked with confronting violent crime across Montana. But this “new beginning” may not just refer to a career shift—it may signal life after unimaginable personal loss.

For devoted Yellowstone viewers, there’s one plausible reason Kayce would ever return to law enforcement. Years ago, he walked away from that world to choose Monica and their son, Tate. He famously declared he couldn’t serve both his badge and his family—and he chose his family. So what could draw him back now? The show strongly suggests tragedy. If Monica is gone, Kayce’s reentry into high-stakes federal enforcement suddenly makes heartbreaking sense.

Whether Monica has died, is alive offscreen, or appears in some spiritual form remains a central mystery. There’s even a theory—rooted in Kayce’s past vision quest—that Monica could appear to him from beyond, giving him the emotional permission to move forward. The visual tone of certain trailer clips echoes those mystical, reflective sequences from Yellowstone. It’s possible her presence lingers in a way that transcends the physical.

Meanwhile, Kayce isn’t alone. His new team brings a fresh ensemble dynamic. Leading the unit is Pete “Cal” Kelvin, played by Logan Marshall-Green, a seasoned actor known for bringing depth to morally complex characters. Belle Skinner, portrayed by Arielle Kebbel, balances grit with personal baggage of her own. Miles KD, played by Tatanka Means, is the least experienced of the group—still learning the psychological cost of the job. Then there’s Andrea Cruz, played by Ash Santos, whose backstory includes the murder of her father, fueling her drive.

Of all the new faces, Cruz stands out. Early glances between her and Kayce hint at something more than professional respect. A few seconds of screen time show her eyeing him with unmistakable curiosity. It’s subtle—but in television, subtle rarely means accidental. Could this be the slow burn of a new romance? Procedural dramas often pair battle-scarred leads with equally wounded partners, and Kayce and Cruz seem poised for exactly that dynamic.

Still, it’s complicated. If Monica has truly passed away, Kayce’s emotional journey toward love would be raw and fragile. If she’s alive—or spiritually present—the path becomes even murkier. The tension between grief and moving on could shape the entire season.

The supporting cast also includes familiar faces from the reservation. Thomas Rainwater and Mo return, anchoring Kayce’s ties to the Broken Rock community. Tate is back too, now older and increasingly aware of the political and cultural struggles surrounding him. In promotional stills from Episode 1, the marshals are seen attempting to maintain order during protests against a proposed mine on tribal land. The situation escalates quickly—gunfire erupts, and chaos follows. It’s clear the series intends to tackle both crime-of-the-week cases and deeper socio-political conflicts.

Adding another layer of intrigue is country music star Riley Green, who joins the cast as Garrett. While his role remains somewhat mysterious, it’s confirmed he’ll perform music within the show. His casting brings a different kind of star power—and perhaps a softer counterpoint to Kayce’s hardened exterior.

Episode 2, titled “Zone of Death,” promises to dig into darker territory. A mission to prevent a domestic terror attack leads Kayce into a valley infamously tied to the Dutton family’s hidden sins. Longtime fans will recognize this remote stretch of land as the so-called “train station”—a place where the Duttons disposed of their enemies. The fact that Marshals revisits this chilling landmark suggests Kayce cannot fully escape his family’s shadow. No matter how far he rides from the ranch, the ghosts follow.

Episode 3 circles back to the brewing standoff over the mine, intensifying the moral complexities of Kayce’s role. He’s caught between enforcing federal law and protecting the community that shaped him. The balancing act between duty and loyalty mirrors the internal conflict that has defined him since Yellowstone’s earliest seasons.

Critics have responded positively so far. A review from TVLine graded the first three episodes a B+, praising the series for its cinematic visuals and emotional weight. Importantly, it notes that viewers don’t need prior Yellowstone knowledge to enjoy the show—but longtime fans will catch numerous callbacks and Easter eggs woven into the narrative.

And then there’s Monica. Portrayed in the original series by Kelsey Asbille, she remained silent on social media for months leading up to the premiere, fueling speculation about her involvement. Finally, she broke that silence in mid-February, posting cryptically about rumors. Her words neither confirmed nor denied her participation. That ambiguity only deepens the mystery.

Is she truly gone, her absence the catalyst for Kayce’s transformation? Or is the show orchestrating an elaborate misdirection? The wedding ring remains. The fleeting image remains. The unanswered questions remain.

One thing is certain: Kayce Dutton’s new chapter is anything but simple. Montana has become a battleground once more—this time not over cattle or political power, but over criminal networks and domestic terror threats. As one ominous line in the trailer warns, the state has been infiltrated by one of the hemisphere’s most violent criminal organizations. Kayce’s home has become a beacon for darkness.

Yet “Piya Wiconi”—new beginning—suggests hope amid the turmoil. For Kayce, that hope may lie in redemption through service, reconnection with his son, and perhaps, eventually, the possibility of loving again. Whether that love belongs to Monica in memory or Andrea Cruz in reality remains the season’s most tantalizing question.

In classic Yellowstone fashion, loyalty, land, and legacy collide with bloodshed and heartbreak. But Marshals carves its own path, blending procedural intensity with the sweeping emotional drama fans crave. Kayce Dutton rides forward, haunted yet determined, stepping into a world where justice comes at a price—and where the past never truly stays buried.

And if that wedding ring is any indication, some bonds can’t be broken, even by death.